Determinants of health-related quality of life in pediatric epilepsy: the impact of treatment tolerability and epilepsy type.

BACKGROUND

Health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) is a central outcome in pediatric epilepsy, yet the relative influence of disease severity versus treatment-related burden remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate HRQOL and assess the respective contributions of clinical characteristics and treatment adverse events in children with epilepsy.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis of 101 children enrolled in a prospective cohort in Lebanon was conducted. HRQOL was assessed using the Arabic QOLCE-55, and treatment-related adverse effects were measured using the Liverpool Adverse Events Profile (LAEP). Multivariable linear regression models, including hierarchical domain-specific analyses, were used to identify factors independently associated with HRQOL.

RESULTS

HRQOL was moderately reduced, with a median QOLCE-55 score of 66 (IQR 55.68-79.41). The physical domain was the most affected (44.44; IQR 30.55-59.72), while the social domain was the least impaired (82.14; IQR 67.85-96.42). In multivariable analysis, higher adverse-effect burden was the strongest factor associated with poorer overall HRQOL (B = -0.97, 95% CI -1.28 to -0.67; p < 0.001), whereas most seizure-related variables were not significant after adjustment. Inclusion of LAEP substantially improved model performance (ΔR 2 up to 0.310) and was associated with poorer HRQOL across all domains. Longer epilepsy duration remained associated with poorer physical HRQOL, and focal epilepsy with lower social and emotional scores.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort, HRQOL was more strongly associated with treatment-related adverse effects than with most seizure-related variables. Treatment tolerability appears to represent an important and modifiable correlate of well-being. Routine assessment of adverse effects may enhance patient-centered care.